Fsu Loses Mcmanus, Leadership

November 2, 1986|By Barry Cooper of The Sentinel Staff

MIAMI — Danny McManus, hard-luck quarterback for Florida State, once again Saturday was forced to give his account of whodunit, this time after a 41-23 loss to the University of Miami at the Orange Bowl.

Just as he had stood firmly in the face of Hurricanes' blitzes, he confronted reporters, offering a calm description of how his right thumb had been so severely jammed that it swelled to nearly the size of his wrist.

McManus has become accustomed to such medical briefings. Last year, he was knocked out twice in three games and missed the remainder of the season.

Against the Hurricanes, he was enjoying one of his finest performances until midway through the second quarter when, on a fake field-goal attempt, his hand was slammed to the turf or against somebody's helmet. McManus couldn't remember which.

''I didn't notice a thing at first,'' he said. ''I was tackled on the play, gave the ball back to the official and then I noticed this pain in my hand.'' A quick self-examination confirmed that something was awry. McManus remembers the thumb, the one which he passes with, rapidly swelling, with blood oozing from the knuckle area and from underneath the fingernail.

It was not immediately known when McManus will be able to play again. The Seminoles play at South Carolina this week.

''I can't even squeeze my hand now,'' McManus said.

The injury sidelined McManus for the rest of the game and squeezed FSU out of contention. McManus had played with an air of cool confidence. His replacements did not.

Redshirt freshman Peter Tom Willis completed 7 of 14 passes for 72 yards, and former starter Chip Ferguson, a sophomore, failed on three attempts in about five minutes of play.

Both seemed confused, even befuddled, by the Hurricanes' defense, which grew more menacing as the game progressed.

''I wish I could have played better but I just didn't,'' Willis said. ''I was out there playing against the No. 1 team, the No. 1 quarterback. I wanted to do well.''

Before his injury, McManus had completed 8 of 15 passes for 84 yards, and more importantly, had steadied the youthful Seminoles. Without him they seemed jittery, unsure.

''We lost leadership in the huddle,'' tight end Pat Carter said. ''The other guys quarterbacks are young. They are not ready to lead like Danny is.'' Linebacker Fred Jones said, ''When Danny is in there, those guys are in another gear. It would have been a different game if Danny had been in all the way.''

McManus was hurt at 7:49 of the second half when underdog FSU was starting to relish its David vs. Goliath role, leading, 17-14.

The Seminoles had played daringly, using a trick play -- a lateral during a kickoff return -- to score their second TD.

Another crafty maneuver backfired, though. On fourth-and-8 from Miami's 19, Derek Schmidt came on for the apparent field-goal attempt. Coach Bobby Bowden decided to try for the first down instead, and Schmidt faked the kick. McManus, the holder, picked up the ball and sprinted to his right.

''I was supposed to throw the ball,'' he said. ''But everybody was covered.''

McManus decided to run, weaving through the Hurricanes before he was stopped six inches from the first-down marker.

''It was a very unfortunate thing to lose our quarterback just before the half,'' Bowden said. ''We could not do enough things offensively with Danny out.''

Pressed as to whether FSU might have won with McManus playing all afternoon, Bowden hedged.

''We lose something when he is not in the game,'' he said. ''He is definitely the best quarterback we have.''